Chapter 183 (1/2)
Chapter 183: Chapter 183
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed a bowl of soup that was steaming, as if a maid just brought it there. Although I had little appetite, I had no choice but to sit down because I noticed my father next to me picking up a spoon for me.
“I can do it, Daddy.”
“Don’t refuse because I want to do it for you.”
“But…”
Although I tried to refuse, he was not persuaded. When he blew on the thin soup to cool it a bit before putting it to my mouth, I helplessly ate the soup as he gave it to me.
When I swallowed a couple of times, my eyes suddenly met his eyes. His dark blue eyes looking at me were filled with all kinds of emotions, such as joy, sadness, regret, and guilt.
Suddenly, I was choked up with emotions. I felt sorry for him who couldn’t rejoice freely even when his daughter got up. I also felt guilty because I was also responsible for his sadness.
When I shook my head when he tried to put the spoon to my mouth, he put down the spoon with a sigh, and said, “Don’t blame yourself.”
“… ”
“Try to smile, Tia. I barely kept my daughter that I would have lost, but I feel so uncomfortable if you look sullen like that.”
“But the emperor’s condition is…”
“It’s because of those who tried to harm you. It’s not your fault, is it? The emperor doesn’t hope you feel that way.”
Does the crown prince also think so? I wondered if he would think so when he heard that the emperor who barely recovered his health was back in a critical condition after hearing that I was poisoned?
Really? I hesitated several times. Although I really wanted to see the emperor who was seriously ill, I was scared because of the crown prince’s possible resentment towards me. I got cold feet because he might get upset the moment he saw me at the palace. That’s why I wrote a letter to him, asking for my audience with the emperor, several hours ago.
I felt as if the soup I drank was stuck in the throat. When I refused, looking up at him who put the soup again in my mouth, he pushed aside the soup bowl with a deep sigh and said, “Tia.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“I have to go back to the Imperial Palace. As soon as I’m done, I’ll be back right away, so take a good rest until then. Let me know immediately if anything happens. Got it?”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’m so sorry I can’t be with you now.”
“That’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”.
As I rubbed my cheeks on his big hand like a child, he had a faint smile on his hardened face.
Trying hard not to hide my heavy heart, I smiled as brightly as I could as my father stroked my hair again and again.
“My lady, here you are.”
“Thanks, as always, Lina.”
“Only one hour only today. Right?”
“Sure, don’t worry.”
It’s been a week since I got up from the bed.
Now I’ve recovered to the point where I can get around without being helped, but because of the people who were too worried about me, I found myself confined to my house.
As a result, I was having an incredibly boring day. After struggling with boredom, I begged Lina to let me embroider for an hour everyday, which made me so happy.
The reason I chose embroidery out of so many things to do was because I realized that Carsein’s coming-of-age ceremony passed by while I was in bed.
Even though it had already passed, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to his once in a lifetime ceremony. I couldn’t make up for my missed attendance with something trifling.
So, I have been making a gift for him for the past few days.
“By the way, my lady.”
“Huh? Is my time up already? ”
“No. Not that … Well, you have a letter from the palace. It looks like the crown prince sent it…”
The envelope she presented to me was now familiar to me. It was a luxurious envelope studded with a gold-colored pearl shining on a blue background.
It was his reply to my letter asking for my audience with the emperor, four days after I sent it.
My fingertips quickly got cold. After hesitating for a long time, I opened the seal with a trembling hand and read it.
“Whew!” I put down the letter with a sigh. Then I looked at his handwriting for a while and carefully put it in the letter file.